Early Foreign Language Classes Can Have a Profound Effect
From quesadillas to Spanish story books, the Spanish curriculum lessons for your high school daughter extended far beyond the classroom. What started as a rather casual set of preschool Spanish lessons by a part time para professional, in fact, has turned into a serious interest that might become part of a future career.
There are many people who would argue that few skills are more important in today’s world than being able to speak a second language. In this country, and around the world, one of the second languages this is the most popular is Spanish. From business dealings with investors to communication skills needed for students, patients, and workers, Spanish is a second language that is very beneficial.
With a simple set of Spanish story books, many schools find an easy way to make sure that students get an early start in mastering a second language that will serve them well in both social and workplace settings.
Spanish for Preschoolers Is a Draw for Many Parents
In a time when the world is increasingly competitive, it should come as no surprise that many parents are looking for advantages that will help set their children up for success later in life. As a result, there are more and more preschools that are offering foreign language classes as a way to capture this sensitive learning period of children. The latest research indicates that it is important to take advantage of the critical time in early development when acquiring language skills comes both easily and naturally. A child’s capacity to pronounce unfamiliar, foreign sounds and to absorb new grammar rules is especially high prior to age six.
Many American parents realize that if they want their children to compete in the future they need to take advantage of all the available options. Did you know, for instance, that more than 66% of the world’s children are bilingual? According to the Summer Institute of Linguistics, however, only 17% of the total population in the U.S. speaks a second language in addition to English. In the world’s global economy, this puts us at a distinct disadvantage as more and more international opportunities open up.
Fortunately, by finding a preschool that offers Spanish classes to the youngest learners, parents can find a way to make sure that they are giving their children an important advantage.